History of the ILGWU
International Conventions
The ILGWU's international convention was the union's highest governing body. The ILGWU met annually in its early years, but with the adoption of the union's constitution and bylaws in 1924, the international convention became a triennial event. While the particulars of eligibility and the number of delegates sent from a union changed throughout the union's history, the number of members in good standing with the union always played an important role in determining representation at the international conventions. At the ILGWU's conventions, staff and officers reported on union activities, delegates proposed and voted on resolutions, and the union detailed the outlook for the industry.
The union's final convention was held in 1995, when delegates voted to accept the proposed merger of the ILGWU with the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union to create the Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees (UNITE).
Third annual ILGWU convention, group photo includes MW Schoen, James McCauley, Herman Grossman, and B. Kurland, front row. Benjamin Schlesinger, Sam Bergman, and Bernard Braff, second row. Third row, Joseph Saylem, S. Lefkovists and Sam Glassman. 1902.
| Number | Year | Dates | City | Number of Delegates |
| 1 | 1900 | June 3 | New York | 11 |
| 2 | 1901 | June 9-10 | Philadelphia | 16 |
| 3 | 1902 | June 9-11 | New York | 38 |
| 4 | 1903 | June 1-4 | Cleveland | 43 |
| 5 | 1904 | June 6-9 | Boston | 30 |
| 6 | 1905 | June 6-9 | New York | 23 |
| 7 | 1906 | June 18-21 | New York | 20 |
| 8 | 1907 | June 3-6 | Baltimore | 17 |
| 9 | 1908 | June 1-5 | Philadelphia | 38 |
| 10 | 1910 | June 6-11 | Boston | 64 |
| Special | 1911 | October 14-15 | New York | 69 |
| 11 | 1912 | June 3-12 | Toronto | 120 |
| Special | 1913 | May 1-3 | Yonkers | 101 |
| 12 | 1914 | June 1-13 | Cleveland | 154 |
| 13 | 1916 | October 16-28 | Philadelphia | 187 |
| 14 | 1918 | May 20 - June 1 | Boston | 202 |
| 15 | 1920 | May 3-15 | Chicago | 253 |
| 16 | 1922 | May 1-12 | Cleveland | 233 |
| Special | 1923 | February | Baltimore | N/A |
| 17 | 1924 | May 5-17 | Boston | 300 |
| 18 | 1925 | Nov 30 - Dec 17 | Philadelphia | 285 |
| 19 | 1928 | May 7-17 | Boston | 204 |
| 20 | 1929 | December 2-10 | Cleveland | 178 |
| 21 | 1932 | May 2-14 | Philadelphia | 150 |
| 22 | 1934 | May 28 - June 9 | Chicago | 369 |
| 23 | 1937 | May 3-15 | Atlantic City | 517 |
| 24 | 1940 | May 27 - June 8 | New York | 643 |
| 25 | 1944 | May 29 - June 8 | Boston | 762 |
| 26 | 1947 | June 16-26 | Cleveland | 878 |
| 27 | 1950 | May 23 - June 1 | Atlantic City | 1056 |
| 28 | 1953 | May 18-26 | Chicago | 975 |
| 29 | 1956 | May 10-18 | Atlantic City | 1022 |
| 30 | 1959 | May 11-19 | Miami Beach | 966 |
| 31 | 1962 | May 23-31 | Atlantic City | 962 |
| 32 | 1965 | May 12-20 | Miami Beach | 919 |
| 33 | 1968 | May 23-30 | Atlantic City | 957 |
| 34 | 1971 | May 6-14 | Miami Beach | 1005 |
| 35 | 1974 | May 31 - June 7 | Miami Beach | 1008 |
| 36 | 1977 | May 27 - June 4 | Hollywood, FL | 965 |
| 37 | 1980 | Sept 28 - Oct 3 | New York | 903 |
| 38 | 1983 | May 27 - June 3 | Hollywood, FL | 800 |
| 39 | 1986 | May 30 - June 6 | Hollywood, FL | 689 |
| 40 | 1989 | June 2-9 | Hollywood, FL | 652 |
| 41 | 1992 | June 12-19 | Miami Beach | 499 |
| 42 | 1995 | June | Miami Beach | N/A |